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Sunday, January 8, 2012

KOREAN LANGUAGE: Rice Cake Metaphors in Korean Maxims

“Have the memorial
service for your ancestors conducted since you see rice cakes at hand.”

● Rice cakes are
essential for memorial services for ancestors.

USAGE

When you solve a
problem the moment you chance upon a thing which is very crucial to
solving it

Name
ddeoki keo boinda.

남의떡이커보인다.

“The rice cakes are
bigger on others’ plates.”

USAGE

When other people’s
possessions or their situations always look better than your own even when
they are not really so

EE*

The grass is greener
on the other side of the fence.

Geurime
ddeok*

그림의떡

“Rice
cake in the painting”

● You cannot eat the
rice cakes in the paintings.

USAGE

When you’re facing the
most attractive yet unreachable

Ddeok
jul sarameun ggumdo an gguneunde gimchigukbuteo masijimara.

떡줄사람은꿈도안꾸는데

김치국부터마시지마라.

“Do not drink Kimchi
soup when a person who has rice cakes has no intention of giving you some.”

● Korean people eat
rice cakes together with Kimchi soup - usually, the rice cakes first then the
Kimchi soup.

USAGE

When someone assumes
that he’ll get something before he actually has it; when someone’s counting
on something before it happens

EE*

Do not count your
chickens before they hatch.

Ddeok
jugo bbyam manneunda.

떡주고뺨맞는다.

“You give someone a
rice cake but he slaps you across the cheek in return.”

USAGE

When your good deeds
are paid with evil

Ddeok
dallaneunde dol junda.

떡달라는데돌준다.

“You ask for a rice
cake but are given a stone.”

USAGE

When someone treats
you contrary to your wishes

Bogi
joeun ddeoki meokgido jota.

보기좋은떡이먹기도좋다.

“A rice cake that
looks good tastes good.”

EE*

Names and natures do
often agree.

Nuweoseo ddeok meokgi

누워서떡먹기

“(It’s like) eating
rice cakes while lying down.”

USAGE

When something is
really easy

EE*

It’s a piece of cake

EE* = English Equivalent

*“Rice cake in the painting”
(Geurime ddeok)
has been mistranslated as “Pie in the sky,” which refers to a foolishly
unrealistic goal or an absurd daydream.
The Korean equivalent of “Pie in the sky” can be “A sterile woman''s having a constant dream of a dragon every night.” In Korean
culture, if a person sees a dragon in his/her dream, it is traditionally interpreted
as a sign for conceiving a boy.